Closet-ventilator



E. A. JOHNSTON.

CLOSET VENTILATOR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-10.1917.

Patented June 8, 1920.

l/VVE/VTOR Edwn afrlhar iz nsvn Br 3 flpam 2i ATTORNEYS 8 r W 9 E Toallwhom it may concern UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Enwi -A. JOH STON, 0F, .ioHNs'rowN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLOSET-VENTILATOR.

Be it known. that I, EnwIN ARTHUR JOHNSTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of J ohnstown, in the county of Cambria, andState", of Pennsylvania,-

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Closet-Ventilators, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sanitaryappliances, being moreparticularly an improvement in closet ventilators, and it consists inthe constructions, combinations,

and arrangements herein described and claimed. 3 v a An object of myinvention is to provide -a-motor driven exhaust fan for exhausting.

the air from the bowl, and including a float and seat operated switchfor controlling the vention. v

"Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of action of the motor oftheexhaust fan.

Another object of the invention 15 to provide a device as described,including a switch h aving a spring pressed plunger adapted to engage anarm on the seat to hold the seat in a position. i

Another object of the inventlon s to provide a device as described,including the switch having connection with 'the float lever, forthrowing the switch and stopping the motor upon flushing the bowl. v e

Other objects and advantages w1ll appear in the following specification,reference being had to the accompanyingdrawmg, in.

which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a flush tank illustrating theapplication of the in- Fig. .1

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the switch with the cover plate removed, and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

My invention consists primarily of an exhaust fan 1 operated by a motor2 and located in a. fan casing 3. Thefan casing 3 communicates at oneside with an air discharge pipe' 4. The bottom of the cas1ng 3communicates with an exhaust pipe 5 ineluding a hood 6 which is fittedover the over-flow pipe 7 and is spaced therefrom as at 8. j v

The over-flow pipe 7 leads to the bowl 90.

The function of the exhaust. fan 1 when the motor 2 is operated, is tocreate a draft in Specification of Letters Patent.

normally slightly elevated Patented June 8, 1920.

' Application filed December 10, 1917. Serial No. 206,412.

the over-flow pipe 7 exhausting the air therefrom and discharging thesame into the air dischargepipe 4.

A switch mechanism 9 controls the operation of the motor; The switchmechanism 9 consists essentially of a plunger 10 having.

a collar 1.1 pressed against the bottom of the switch casing 12 by a.coil spring 13 which surrounds a portion of the plunger. The upperportion ofthe spring bears against a bracket 1 1 so that the plunger isalways normally forced downwardly.

An arm 15 having an adjusting screw 16, is adapted tobe presseddownwardly through the engagement of the plunger. 10. with the adjustingscrew 16. The'seatl? the action of the spring 13. The arm 15 is pivotedat 18 to the hinge 19 screwed to the bottom of the seat at 20. The arm15 has a shoulder 21 which abuts. the shoulder 22 formed on the hinge 19below the pivot 18.

A solid connection is substantially afforded by the arrangement of theshouldefi is normally held slightly elevated through.

on the arm and hinge respectively, so that 7 when the spring 13 pressesthe plunger 10 downwardly, and the plunger is in engage I ment with theadjusting screw 16, the arm 15 thus being pressed downwardly, slightlyrocks the seat 17 on the pivot 18 whereupon the front end thereof isslightly elevated.

Upon applying a weight to the seat, the

arm 15 is moved upwardly, and the plunger 10 shifts a switch arm 23inside of the switch casing 12, into eng'agementwith a pair of contacts24 in circuit with the motor 2. The circuit through the motor is thenclosed and the-motor operates .to rotate the exhaust fan 1; The switcharm 23 has a V-shaped projection 25 which engages a recess 26 in the endof the plunger 10. A

spring 27 pulls the switch arm 23 down, and

the projection 25 into firm engagement with the recess in the plunger.

A latch 28 has a heel 29 which catches the end of the switch arm 23 tohold it in the under side to facilitate the movement, and displace'thelatch so that the SWltCll arm The motor'is stopped when the tank isflushed, through the action of thefloat 33 may assume the terminalengaging position and be held in this position by the heel 29 whichsprings back under-the end of theswitch arm.

including the floatlever 34, on a switch hook '35.. The switch hook 35includesa cable 36 which is attached at one'end to the switch hook, andat the other end to a link 37 in the switch casing 12; The link 37 is'in turn connected to the arm of the latch I 28.. The cable 36'runsthroughfla tube 38 which is curved at the upper end to properly guidethe cable over into the-flushed box where it is connect'ed-- to the-hook35. -When. the tank is flushed as above stated, the float 33movesdownwardly with the receding'water level until the float lever 34engages the. bend of the hook 35, when the *cable 36 andconsequently'the link 37, is

:40 i 7 and the exhaust pipe 5 which is practically i pulled upwardly,rocking the latch'28 on 25 the-pivot 31, releasing the end of the switcharm 23 whichis then pulled down ,by the spring 27, breaking the motorcircult.

v These are the essential features of the invention and the particulartype of tank mechanism and the manner in which it-is applied is oflittle consequence. However, Fig. 1 illustrates a typical tank mechanismwhich may be briefly described. The float lever 34 is connected to avalve stem 39 and operates the water inlet valve 40. An afterfill-pipe41 connects to the valve 40 and has a goose neck 42 which dischargesinto the over-flowpipe 7. g

This arrangement introduces a novel structural feature in that theover-flow pipe a continuation thereof, is :made to performtll'COIIlblIlQd functions of conducting the 'The motor 2 and fan 1 arenormally idle and the switch arm 23 is in normal disconnection with theterminals 24., The spring 13 normally presses the plunger. .10downwardly, consequently slightly raising the seat 17. Y

A weight being applied to the seat, rocks the seat and the arm 15 on themutual fulcrum 18, pressing the plunger 10 upwardly against the. tensionof the spring 13, and

moving the switch'arm 23 between the terminals 24. The latch 28 looksthe switch 1 0f the motor.

I aim in this' position in the manner previ- .ously described. The motorcircuit is thus.

closed and the fan 1 operates to create the current-of air in the pipes7, -5 and 4,

Upon operation of. the flushing mechanism, the float 33 lowers until theflo'at lever 34 engages the bend in the switch hook 35. The switch hookis thus carried down, and a pull, is exerted. on the cable 36, raisingthe link- 37 and rocking the latch 28. The heel 29 being, thus freedfrom the .endof the switch arm 23, permitsthe storedtension in thespring 27 to pull the switch, arm 23 w away from the terminals 24 tobreak the motor circuit and stop the rotation of the fan.

It will be understood that ordinarily few p'eoplecontinue to occupy theseat after the plunger 10, permitting the arm 23 to fall upon beingreleased-by the latch 28.

the seat 17 causes the motor to operate.

flushing, and so the weight is relieved from g It has been explainedthat a pressure u on g fact that the motor is operating, serves as A anindication that the tank must be flushed before the function of-theswitch mechanism 9 may come into play to stop the operation Asincidental details of construction, the switch hook 355 is preferablymade of rigid material and is connected to the cable 36 which isflexible. Obviously the cableand hook may be made continuous if- -it befound desirable to do 50. Again, I the screw 16- is made adjustable sothat the seat 17' may be raised to-various heights through the action ofthe'spring13. It will be understood that the seat 17 may readily beraised without disturbing the switch mechanism 9' in the least. But assoon as the shoulders 21' and 22"come into contact,

t connection of'thearm 15 with the hinge 19 is, for all purpo ig It willbe understood that the switch I shown is merely for purposes ofillustration,

, as any suitable commercial or other form of switch could-be usedwithout departing from the form .offmy invention. Instead of leadbe ledto the pivotal point of-the switch arm 23 and to a singleterminal 24,respectively. The advantage of-this arrangement 'ing thev wiresyto apair of terminals'as. .illustrated'in Figs. 13' and 4, the wires may is,that arcing is less liable to occur, but as 7 stated above, thearrangement of the switch j and the parent connections-maybe varied tosuit the particular requirements.

While the constructionjand arrangement of the device as illustrated inthe accompanyingdrawing is that of'a generally preferred form, obviouslymodifications and eg j,

changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventionor the scope of the claims. i 3

I claim:

1. In a.closet ventilator, an over-flow pipe,

an, exhaust pipe having a hood covering the end of the over-flow pipeand adapted to form a water seal therebetween, a motor operated fan inthe exhaust pipe, seat-operated means for energizing the motor, andfloatoperated means co'acting with said seatoperated means forde'e'ne'rgizing the motor.

2. In a closet ventilator, a pivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminalsengageable by said arm, an insulating plunger in engagement with theswitch arm, a seat-operated arm arranged to shift the switch arm throughthe plunger, and means pressing the plunger into engagement with theseatoperated arm.

3. In a closet ventilator, a pivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminalsengageable by said arm. an insulating plunger in engagement with theswitch arm, a seat operated arm arranged to shift the switch arm throughthe plunger, means pressing the plunger into engagement with theseat-operated arm, and means associated with said terminals, for holdingthe switch arm in the circuit closing position.

at. In a closet ventilator, a combined water over-flow and airexhausting pipe, a motor driven fan for exhausting air in' the pipe, apivoted switch arm, motor circuit terminals engageable by said arm, aplunger in engagement with the switch arm, a seatoperated arm engagingthe plunger and adapted to shift the switch arm, means pressing theplunger into engagement with the seat-operated arm, means associatedwith said terminals, for holding the switch arm in the circuit closingposition, and floatoperated means including a switch hook and cable inconnection with said terminalassociated means, for releasing the switcharm.

In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism andseat, an arm carried by the seat, a plunger included in the switchmechanism and engaging the arm, a spring pressing the plungerinto suchengagement, and a switch arm in engagement with the plunger and movablethrough the shifting of the seat.

6. In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism andseat, a shouldered hinge secured to the seat, a shouldered arm inpivotal relationship to the hinge, the abutment of the shoulders forminga rigid connection, a plunger included in the switch mechanism andengaging said arm, and a spring acting on the'plunger to hold the seatat a normally slight elevation through the rigid connection of the armand hinge.

7. In a device as described, the combination of the switch mechanism andseat, a shouldered hinge secured to the seat, a shouldered arm inpivotal relationship to the hinge, the abutment of the shoulders forminga rigid connection, a plunger included in the switch mechanism andengaging said arm, aspring acting on the plunger to hold the seat at anormally slight elevation through the rigid connection of the arm andhinge, and an adjustable screw located at the point of engagement of theplunger with said arm.

8. In a device as described, the combination of the seat carried arm, aswitch mechanism carried plunger contacting said arm, a spring holdingthe plunger in contact, circuit terminals, a switch arm having aprojecting portion engaging the plunger and adapted to be moved intocontact with the terminals upon movement of said arm, and a lockinglatch including a heel for engaging the end of the switch arm to hold itin engagement with the circuit terminals.

9. In a device as described, the combination of the seat carried arm, aswitch mechanism carried plunger contacting said arm, a spring holdingthe plunger in contact, circuit terminals, a switch arm having aprojecting portion engaging the plunger and adapted to be moved intocontact with the terminals upon movement of said arm, a locking latchincluding a heel for engaging the end of the switch arm to hold it inengagement with the circuit terminals, and a float-operated connectionto said latch for moving the latch to release the switch arm, includinga float lever engageable switch hook and a flexible cable.

10. In a device as described, thecombination of the switch mechanismincluding the switch arm latch, a link connected to the latch, the floatlever, arigid switch hook including a loop-head portion receivingthefloat lever and adapted to'be engaged thereby during a portion of thedownward movement of the float lever, a cable connected to said hook andthe link, and a tube including a curved portion for guiding the cable.

11. In a closet ventilator, an exhaust pipe in communication with thebowl, means for exhausting the air from the pipe, seat-controlled meansarranged to render said exhausting means operative upon application ofpressure to the seat, and means operative by a movable portion in theflush tank arranged to render the exhausting means inoperative uponfiushing the bowl.

EDWIN A. JoHNsToN.

